**This class will be taught on Zoom**
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During the first half of the 20th Century, America was bursting with brilliant singers, dancers and popular entertainers. Colorful tap dancers, bandleaders and movie stars sustained spirits through the Great Depression and a world war. From modest origins, sweeping careers blossomed when golden opportunity met raw talent and hard work.
In each class a dozen audiovisual clips are set in context, many created expressly for the course, offering a cavalcade of now-forgotten stars. Linked playlist and resources documents are provided for each class. Six weeks; Zoom format only.
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1 – Cab Calloway shaped the Swing era, an American icon for five decades. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, John W. Bubbles and the Nicholas Brothers were the world’s greatest tap dancers.
2 – Orchestra leaders Blanche Calloway, Lil Hardin, Ina Ray Hutton and Rita Rio sang and ran their own ensembles in the 1930s on records, radio, film and touring the nation. The Fabulous Dorsey Brothers, Tommy and Jimmy were mainstays of the Swing era, together selling 100 million records.
3 - Spud Murphy wrote or arranged 600 charts for the top Swing orchestras, including 102 for Benny Goodman. New Orleans-born Frank “Big Boy” Goudie became a Creole Johnny Appleseed of Jazz in Paris, South America, Switzerland, Germany and finally San Francisco. (Exclusive content.)
4 - Ma Rainey was a singer, songwriter, impresario and fiercely independent “Mother of the Blues.” Her protégé Bessie Smith defined the Classic Blues, sparking global interest in jazz.
5 – Bob Wills and his unique hybrid Country/Swing/Jazz orchestra turned American entertainment topsy-turvy in 1940. The brilliant dancer, singer and actor Eleanor Powell was a top Hollywood draw embodying mid-century American feminine virtue.
6 – During WWII, America told itself stories of the war in three- and four-part vocal harmony hits. The multi-ethnic International Sweethearts of Rhythm were the foremost so-called “All-Girl” Swing orchestra of WWII.
